SOJOURNER (III): tmr gally

23: I shouldn't believe him

Michelle 23

Rose and Hilde stand on either side of me, only sparing me glances. I squint back at them, both because of my anger and the sunlight above us. Marie is on the ground, tending to Ella's unconscious body, and Teresa has her arms crossed, as she faces me.

"Did you help her escape?" Teresa asks, again. She rubs her eyes with the palms of her hands, shaking her head back and forth. When she glances up at me, her bloodshot eyes narrow in, her brow furrowing.

So, I simply return the stare.

This gesture is unappreciated by her, so she stalks off, grumbling under her breath, again, about how the sign across from us, painted on to the brick wall of the building in front of us, is simply propaganda.

THOMAS, YOU'RE THE REAL LEADER.

The words stare back at me, expecting me to challenge them. I don't, even if I doubt them. I still don't like the shank, but I don't particularly like Teresa anymore. The survival alliance has proved to be nothing more, and I just hope Ella's seizure gave Leo the ten-minute head start she needed.

It worked especially well since I said I didn't wake her up and that Sonya had asked me too (even though, obviously, none of that is true). So, after Marie dealt with Ella for an unsuccessful five minutes, Harriet finally asked where Leo was. Then, she wasted another five minutes going underground, and searching around for her down there. Thankfully, Sonya has yet to tell them she woke up Leo, not me.

Now, there are two search parties. One above, and one below. Now, I am being guarded by four different girls, all of whom I could probably take with ease. I can't help but smirk.

"Hide it better," Rose whispers, nudging me in the side.

I roll my eyes. I'm getting off of this free and she knows it. What's the worst, possible thing that could happen? They banish me? Good. Maybe they will try to kill me, in which case I will take at least one of them down with me, and Teresa knows it. I'm not worth the hassle.

"Seriously," she continues on, glancing over at Hilde.

Whether she is actually paying attention or not, Hilde is paying me no mind. Obviously, I can't say I blame her. She must be bored to shuck watching over me like a guard dog.

"Why do you too hate each other so much?" I ask, not because I care, but because it's going to start klunk. My voice is louder now, and I look from Rose to Hilde. "Is it because Jay was screwing you both? Or were you both trying to be the Map holder once Beth died?"

"Shut your mouth," Rose warns, gritting her teeth.

"Why, Roe?" Hilde can't resist the urge to egg her on. She smirks, letting her guard off me. "Can't admit that you're jealous."

"I'm not jealous," Rose answers, her grip on her bow tightening. "You're jealous that I got Jay."

"You can keep Jay," Hilde laughs. She glances up at me and winks. She knows what I'm doing, but I don't think she realises exactly how angry Rose is getting. I can feel her huffing from here. "After all, he crawled back to me the night before we left."

Rose chucks her bow on the ground, and I lean backwards. She jumps over me to get to Hilde, tackling the girl to the ground. Rose holds her down, reaching back with one fist and punching her in the face.

Hilde screams and kicks her legs up, causing Rose to tip forward. With the surprise, Hilde rolls from out from underneath her, and slams the girl against the ground.